Australian Penthouse

Home from America and excited about the future, Aussie country music star Catherine Britt talks to Penthouse about her new self-titled album, songwriting, and her not-entirely-pure love for Hank Williams

The new album is simply titled Catherine Britt. Does it mark some sort of reinvention for you?
A little bit, yeah. It was actually Kasey Chambers who called me one day and said, “I think this album is really about you getting back to your roots and I don’t think you can call it anything other than Catherine Britt.” It just really made sense in the end.

How have you changed as an artist?
In a lot of ways, I guess. I started out pretty young and kinda made music that just made me feel good. When I went over to America, I got a little side-tracked. I don’t think I ever compromised, but I was starting to mentally give up. It was when I started getting in that frame of mind that I knew I had to walk away, go home and find myself again. I wasn’t inspired and I was going to start making music for the wrong reasons, and I didn’t get into the industry to write a song just for a radio station. I’m really happy to be back home making the music I want to make.

What’s your favourite track on the new album?
It changes daily, but I’ve got a real fondness for every track for different reasons. It’s a very diverse album.

There are some great, happy songs on the record…
Yeah, there are, which is surprising because I’ve always struggled to write a happy song. So yay!

Can you describe your writing process?
It’s sort of different every time. I get really inspired by other music, and life experience, of course.  I also like a project – I knew I had an album to write and that focused me. Once I start writing, it’s pretty straightforward.

You’ve known producer Bill Chambers for a long time. What was it like to work so closely with him on Catherine Britt?
I’ve known Bill since I was about 11 and he’s always been involved with my career. He produced my first EP and my first album, and then he went over to Nashville with me and co-produced my second album, Too Far Gone. After that, we kinda lost touch, but when I came back to Australia and got my shit together, I realised he was the person I needed to be in contact with again. It was actually his advice to get Shane Nicholson, Kasey Chambers’ husband, on board for the project. It just sort of became this big family affair again, which is good because that’s how it started out for me.

Will you go back to Nashville or are you home for good?
I definitely want to go back to America, but not to live. I can’t predict the future, but I don’t see it making sense for me ever again. I really love Australia and I just want to live here.

What are the best and worst aspects of being a professional musician?
The best aspect is everything! We have this very blessed, creative way of living, and then you get to tour and party and have a great time. I guess the only downside is that when there’s not a lot going on, it can get a bit boring.

Do you have any advice for aspiring country artists?
You’ve really got to put in the hard work in the beginning and keep it going or you’ll be quickly forgotten. I’ve had a lucky path in a lot of ways, but I’ve also seen a lot of things that maybe I shouldn’t have seen by 25, and I think that just comes with the industry. People sort of sit around on their couches and wait for the record labels to come to them; what they don’t realise is you’ve got to go out and get that stuff. I worked my arse off to get my record deals and write my songs.

Who are you listening to right now?
I’ve been rediscovering a lot of old artists recently, such as American minstrel performer Emmett Miller, Hank Williams and Lucinda Williams. And I’m listening to a lot of Old Crow Medicine Show – I just love their stuff!

Fantasy duet?
I hate to be predictable, but definitely Hank Williams. He’s everything to me. If he was alive, I’d marry him and have lots of duets with him!

At the end of the day, how would you like to be remembered?
As someone who always made music that was true to me, and that I never compromised.

Catherine Britt is available now. Check out www.catherinebritt.com for news and upcoming gigs.